Latest

Two world championships took place this past weekend in Europe, with Team USA taking medals at both events.

In Kracow, Poland, Sarah Schneider took second place at the FILA World Championships in the 58 kg Pankration division. Schenider would end tying the eventual winner Synyavina of the Ukraine, but would lose via tie-break points.

In the grappling competition, Gabriela Foster (58 kg NO-gi) and Ryan Rogge (64 KG Gi) of the US would take third in their respective tournaments.

—–

Wyatt

Due south in Greece, Team USA’s Susie Wyatt took home four medals at the World Pankration Federation Championships. She took two gold medals in the Senior’s division for Pankration and Ammy MMA; while taking bronze in the Adult divisions for Pankration and ammy MMA.

Final day of women’s wrestling sees America’s Kelsey Campbell (55 kg) and Ali Bernard (72 kg) looking to follow Clarissa Chun’s lead and get on the medals’ stand. Also competing are Beijing Gold medalist at 55 kg Saori Yoshida Japan, who looks to follow in her countrywomen’s Kaori Icho footsteps as a three time gold medalist.

She maybe on of the toughest BJJ fighters around, but it doesn’t mean she can’t look great off and the mats, and now you can too.

Multi-timne world champion Gabi Garcia released a preview video this past week to promote her upcoming clothing line which will work on all body types, to petite and pretty to curvaceous and salacious.

The line will be released on GabiGarcia.com.br soon. For now, check out Gabi striking a pose.

This past weekend, The New York Times reported that wrestler Stephany Lee has been pulled off the U.S. wrestling team due to a positive drug test after she competed at the April Olympic wrestling trials. She tested positivie for marijuana metabolites. She tested clean before the event.

Lee, who is a regular user, stopped using weeks before competition, but was surprised about the negative test from the United States Anti-Doping Agency. She stated that this has been the longest she has gone without before a competition. This was her first positive test in her wrestling career.

“I’m more angry than anything at myself,” Lee said. “I’m disappointed for the people I’ve let down that have been behind me. I’m sad. I could have stopped earlier. I could have prevented this.”

The situation mirrors that of MMA fighter Nick Diaz, who tested positive for marijuana metabolites before his last match with Carlos Condit. Diaz also stated he went without smoking it weeks before his fight. The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Diaz until February 2013.

Marijuana was banned in Olympic competition in 1998 after Canadian snowboarder and gold medalist Ross Rebagliati tested positive, but was able to keep his medal because it wasn’t on the banned list. The IOC passed the ban shortly after.

The debate continues in many sports, as advocates state there isn’t any “performance enhancing benefits” to smoking marijuana.

Like Diaz, Lee will be serving an one year suspension. The worst news is that she won’t be able to go to the Olympics in London. She only lost one period in her undefeated Olympic trials run. She was an odds on favorite to take gold.

In her place, Olympic trials runner up Ali Bernard will be representing the 72 kg weight class. She placed 5th in the Beijing Olympics.

Several World Champions were crowned at the IBBJF World Championships with several upsets and repeat champions.

Light-Featherweight black belt Leticia Ribeiro racked up her 7th IBJJF world title, tying Hannett Staak’s record. Ribeiro also racked up her 15 overall world championship, the most by any fighter.

ADCC Over 60 kg champion Gabi Garcia took home the black belt absolute title by defeating Luiza Monteiro Moura da Costa, being the first women to win an absolute title three times. Garcia also took home the black belt heavyweight title.

ADCC under 60 kg champion Kyra Gracie fell in an upset in the semi-final rounds in the featherweight division to eventual runner-up Marina Ribeiro. ADCC runner up Michelle Nicolini would take the title by defeating of Ribeiro.

Cris Cyborg – Courtesy GracieMag

In the purple belt division, Cris “Cyborg” Santos (who went under her maiden name of Cristiane Venancio Justino) won the heavyweight title for the second time in two years. Janni Larsson would take the open-weight title.